Pallet or skid for lifting trucks or the like



June 28, 1949. L 0. H. BITNEY I. 2 ,474,460

PALLET OR SKID FOR LIFTING TRUCKS OR THE LIKE Filed June 9, 1947 5 2 N z 7 w INVENTOR.

Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,474,460 PALLET on SKID FOR LIFTING TRUCKS on THE LIKE Bitney, Albion, Mich.-, assignor to Union Steel Products Company, Albion, Mich., a cornotation of Michigan Attempt June 9, 1947, Serial No. 753,427

This invention relates to pallets or skids for lifting trucks or thelike. p I I The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a pallet or, skid adapted for use in connection withliftingtrucks which is light in weight and at the same time quite strong andrigid. I

Second, to provide a pallet or skid adapted for use with a lifting truck which may be formed entirely of wire or light gauge rod and at the same time withstand rough usage.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow, The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a pallet or skid embodying the invention. I

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on a line corresponding toline'2,--2 ofFig. 1. X U v p Y Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of one corner of a modified formor embodiment of the invention having fork receiving openings on four sides thereof.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of another modified form or embodiment of the invention, a portion only of the top or deck beingillustrated.

The embodiment of theinvention illustrated is especially designed by me for use in stores, warehouses, and the like where lightness is an important factor, at the same time to provide a structure which is economical to produce and strong and rigid,

The embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises a grid-like top designated generally by the numeral I and comprising an upper series of wire slats 2 and a lower series 3 of wire slats, these slats being arranged in spaced crossing relation and welded together as at 4. This top or deck is desirably formed as a mat or grid of such size that its edges may be turned downwardly substantially at right angles to constitute integral opposed pairs of leg members designated generally by the numerals 5 and 6.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, portions of the leg members 6 are cut away to provide openings 1 adapted to receive the forks of a lifting truck. This cutting away to form the openings 1 results in spaced legs or corner legs 8 and intermediate legs 9.

To connect the legs and leg members they are connected by the bottom frame III which is an endless wire frame in the embodiment illustrated 9 Claims. 01. 248-120) 2 and is welded'to the leg members. The intermediate legs 9 are connected by cross members II having upwardly offset portion-s I2 welded at is to a plurality of lower series of slats as shown in Fig. 2. This provides a central leg. The ends of the cross members I I, are lapped upon and welded to the base frame as at I4.

Additional cross tie members I5 are provided, these being welded at It to the cross members I l and at their outer ends to the bottom frame,

Inthe embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the

pallet is designed to be picked up from two sides only. To adapt it to. be picked up from the four sides or diagonally, all four leg members are provided with openings 'I'otherwise the structure is the same as that of Figs. 1 and ,2.

V In the embodimentshown in Fig. 4, the intermediate and central legsll are such as illustratedin my copending application and comprise annular horizontalmembers I '8 and vertical members I9, the top. horizontal members 20 being welded to the bottom of the top or deck while the bottom members are welded to the pairs of base rods 2| disposed in crossing relation with their ends secured to the bottom frame II).

In all of these embodiments, the resulting structure is strong and rigid even when formed of quite light stock. It will be understood that the structure is primarily designed where economy and lightness are important factors and while I accomplish these objects the structure is at the same time quite strong and rigid and capable of withstanding severe usage.

I have not illustrated or described certain embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate 'as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat cut, is:

1. In a pallet, the combination of a grid-like platform or deck comprising upper and lower series of spaced wire slats disposed in crossing relation and welded together at their crossing points, the wire slats of both the upper and lower series at the edges of the platform or deck adjacent the corners thereof being turned downwardly substantially at right angles to constitute integral leg members at said corners, a base frame to which the lower ends of said leg members of both series of slats are welded, portions of the leg members being cut away to provide spaced openings adapted to receive the forks of a lifting truck or the like, and central cross bars connected to opposite members of the base frame centrally thereof, said cross bottom bars being upwardly ofiset centrally thereof and welded to slats of the lower series to constitute central supporting legs for the platform,

2. In a pallet, the combination of a grid-like platform or deck comprising upper and lower series of spaced wire slats disposed in crossing relation and welded together at their crossing points, the wire slats of both the upper and lower series at the edges of the platform or deck adjacent the corners thereof being turned downwardly substantially at right angles to constitute integral leg members at said corners, and a base frame to which the lower ends of said leg members of both series of slats are welded, portions of the leg members being cut away to provide spaced openings adapted to receive the forks of a lifting truck or the like.

3. In a pallet, a grid-like platform or deck comprising upper and lower series of spaced metal slats disposed in crossing relation and welded together at their crossing points, portions of both series of slats adjacent the corners of the platform or deck adjacent the corners thereof being turned downwardly to constitute integral leg members at said corners, and a base-frame to which the lower ends of said leg members of both series of slats are welded.

4. In a pallet, the combination of a grid-like platform or deck of metal having the edges thereof turned downwardly substantially at right angles to provide integral grid-like leg members, a bottom frame secured to the lower ends of said leg members, portions of said leg members being removed .to provide spaced openings adapted to receive the forks of a lifting truck or the like, adjacent leg members at the corners of the deck being secured together, and crossed bottom bars secured to said bottom frame member, and central and intermediate legs secured to the platform and to said crossed bottom barsQ 5. In a pallet, the combination of a grid-like platform or deck of metal having the edges thereof turned downwardly substantially at right angles to provide integral grid-like leg members, and a bottom frame secured to the lower ends of said leg members, portions of said leg members being removed to provide spaced openings adapted to receive the forks of a lifting truck or the like, adjacent leg members at the corners of the deck being secured together.

6. A pallet comprising a platform or deck formed of two sets of crossed metal slats fixedly secured at their crossing points, the slats of both sets at the opposed edges of the platform or deck being turned downwardly to provide leg units integral with the platform or deck at both sides of each of the corners of the platform, portions of the leg units being removed to provide openings adapted to receive the forks of a lifting truck or the like.

7. A pallet comprising a platform or deck formed of two sets of crossed metal slats fixedly secured at their crossing points, the slats of both sets at the opposed edges of the platform or deck being turned downwardly to provide leg units integral with the top or deck at both sides of each of the corners of the platform.

8. In a pallet, the combination of a grid-like platform or deck comprising two series of spaced metal slats disposed in crossing relation and welded together at their crossing points, the slats of both the series at the opposite edges of the platform or deck being turned downwardly to constitute integral grid-like leg members, and base members connected to the lower ends of said leg members, portions of at least one of the leg members being cut away to provide spaced openings adapted to receive the forks of a lifting truck or the like.

9. In a pallet, the combination of a grid-like platform or deck comprising two series of spaced metal slats disposed in crossing relation and welded together at their crossing points, the slats of both series at the opposite edges of the platform or deck being turned downwardly to constitute integral grid-like leg members, and base members connected to the lower ends of said leg members.

DEWEY H. BITNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

